Cut, copy, paste and other common shortcuts

Shortcut Function
Command-X Cut the selected item and copy it to the Clipboard.
Copy the selected item to the Clipboard. This also works
Command-C
for files in the Finder.
Paste the contents of the Clipboard into the current
Command-V
document or app. This also works for files in the Finder.
Undo the previous command. Press Shift-Command-Z to
Command-Z
Redo.
Command-A Select All items.
Command-F Find items in a document or open a Find window.
Find Again – find the next occurrence of the previously
Command-G found item. Press Shift-Command-G to find the previous
occurrence.
Hide the windows of the front app. Press Option-
Command-H
Command-H to hide all other apps.
Minimize the front window to the Dock. Press Option-
Command-M
Command-M to minimize all windows of the front app.
Open the selected item or open a dialog to select a file to
Command-O
open.
Command-P Print the current document.
Command-S Save the current document.
Command-T Open a new tab.
Close the front window. Press Option-Command-W to
Command-W
close all windows of the app.
Option-Command-Esc Force quit an app.
Show or hide the Spotlight search field. Press Command-
Command-Space bar
Option-Space bar for Spotlight search in Finder.
Control-Command-
Show the Character Viewer for emoji and other symbols.
Space bar
Control-Command-F Use the app in full screen, if supported by the app.
Space bar Use Quick Look to preview the selected item.
Switch to the next most recently used app among your
Command-Tab
open apps.
Command-Grave
Switch between the windows of the app you’re using.
accent (`)
Take a screenshot or make a screen recording (macOS
Shift-Command-5 Mojave or later). Use Shift-Command-3 or Shift-
Command-4 for screenshots.
Shift-Command-N Create a new folder in the Finder.
Command-Comma (,) Open preferences for the front app.
Sleep, log out and shut down shortcuts
Shortcut Function
Press to turn on your Mac or wake it from
sleep mode. Press and hold for 1.5 seconds
Power button
to put your Mac into sleep mode. Continue
holding to force your Mac to turn off.
Option-Command-Power button Put your Mac into sleep mode.
Control-Shift-Power button Put your displays into sleep mode.
Display a dialog asking whether you want to
Control-Power button
restart, sleep, or shut down.
Force your Mac to restart without prompting
Control-Command-Power button
to save any open and unsaved documents.
Quit all apps, then restart your Mac. If any
Control-Command-Media Eject open documents have unsaved changes, you
will be asked whether you want to save them.
Quit all apps, then shut down your Mac. If any
Control-Option-Command-Power
open documents have unsaved changes, you
button
will be asked whether you want to save them.
Control-Command-Q Lock your screen immediately.
Log out of your macOS user account. You will
Shift-Command-Q
be asked to confirm.
Option-Shift-Command-Q Log out immediately without confirming.
Finder and system shortcuts
Shortcut Function
Command-D Duplicate the selected files.
Command-E Eject the selected disk or volume.
Command-F Start a Spotlight search in the Finder window.
Command-I Show the Get Info window for a selected file.
(1) Show the original file for a selected alias. (2)
Command-R Refresh or reload the page in some apps. (3) Check
for software updates again in Software Update.
Shift-Command-C Open the Computer window.
Shift-Command-D Open the desktop folder.
Open the Recents window, showing all files viewed
Shift-Command-F
or changed recently.
Shift-Command-G Open a Go to Folder window.
Open the Home folder of the current macOS user
Shift-Command-H
account.
Shift-Command-I Open iCloud Drive.
Shift-Command-K Open the Network window.
Option-Command-L Open the Downloads folder.
Shift-Command-N Create a new folder.
Shift-Command-O Open the Documents folder.
Shift-Command-P Show or hide the Preview pane in Finder windows.
Shift-Command-R Open the AirDrop window.
Shift-Command-T Show or hide the tab bar in Finder windows.
Add selected Finder item to the Dock (OS X
Control-Shift-Command-T
Mavericks or later).
Shift-Command-U Open the Utilities folder.
Option-Command-D Show or hide the Dock.
Add the selected item to the sidebar (OS X
Control-Command-T
Mavericks or later).
Option-Command-P Hide or show the path bar in Finder windows.
Option-Command-S Hide or show the Sidebar in Finder windows.
Command-Slash (/) Hide or show the status bar in Finder windows.
Command-J Show View Options.
Command-K Open the Connect to Server window.
Control-Command-A Make an alias of the selected item.
Command-N Open a new Finder window.
Option-Command-N Create a new Smart Folder.
Show or hide the tab bar when a single tab is open
Command-T
in the current Finder window.
Show or hide the toolbar when a single tab is open
Option-Command-T
in the current Finder window.
Move the files in the Clipboard from their original
Option-Command-V
location to the current location.
Command-Y Use Quick Look to preview the selected files.
Option-Command-Y View a Quick Look slideshow of the selected files.
Command-1 View the items in the Finder window as icons.
Command-2 View the items in a Finder window as a list.
Command-3 View the items in a Finder window in columns.
Command-4 View the items in a Finder window in a gallery.
Command-Left Bracket ([) Go to the previous folder.
Command-Right Bracket (]) Go to the next folder.
Command-Up Arrow Open the folder that contains the current folder.
Open the folder that contains the current folder in
Command-Control-Up Arrow
a new window.
Command-Down Arrow Open the selected item.
Right Arrow Open the selected folder (works only in list view).
Left Arrow Close the selected folder (works only in list view).
Command-Delete Move the selected item to the Bin.
Shift-Command-Delete Empty the Bin.
Option-Shift-Command-
Empty the Bin without confirmation dialogue.
Delete
Turn video mirroring on or off when your Mac is
Command-Brightness Down
connected to more than one display.
Open Displays preferences (works with either
Option-Brightness Up
Brightness key).
Change the brightness of your external display (if
Control-Brightness Up / Down
supported).
Adjust the display brightness in smaller steps. Add
Option-Shift-Brightness Up /
the Control key to adjust on your external display (if
Down
supported).
Option-Mission Control Open Mission Control preferences.
Command-Mission Control Show the desktop.
Control-Down Arrow Show all windows of the front app.
Open Sound preferences (works with any volume
Option-Volume Up
key).
Option-Shift-Volume Up /
Adjust the sound volume in smaller steps.
Down
Option-Keyboard Brightness Open Keyboard preferences (works with either
Up Keyboard Brightness key).
Option-Shift-Keyboard
Adjust the keyboard brightness in smaller steps.
Brightness Up / Down
Option key while double- Open the item in a separate window, then close the
clicking original window.
Command key while double-
Open a folder in a separate tab or window.
clicking
Command key while dragging Move the dragged item to the other volume,
to another volume instead of copying it.
Copy the dragged item (pointer changes while
Option key while dragging
dragging).
Option-Command while Make an alias of the dragged item (pointer changes
dragging while dragging).
Option-click a disclosure Open all folders within the selected folder (works
triangle only in list view).
Command-click a window title See the folders that contain the current folder.
Document shortcuts
The behaviour of these shortcuts may vary, depending on the app you’re using.

Shortcut Function
Command-B Boldface the selected text, or turn boldfacing on or off.
Command-I Italicize the selected text, or turn italics on or off.
Command-K Add a web link.
Underline the selected text or turn underlining on or
Command-U
off.
Command-T Show or hide the Fonts window.
Select the Desktop folder from within an Open
Command-D
dialogue or Save dialogue.
Control-Command-D Show or hide the definition of the selected word.
Shift-Command-Colon (:) Display the Spelling and Grammar window.
Command-Semicolon (;) Find misspelled words in the document.
Option-Delete Delete the word to the left of the insertion point.
Delete the character to the left of the insertion point (or
Control-H
use Delete).
Delete the character to the right of the insertion point
Control-D
(or use Fn-Delete).
Forward delete on keyboards that don’t have a Forward
Fn-Delete
Delete key (or use Control-D).
Delete the text between the insertion point and the end
Control-K
of the line or paragraph.
Fn-Up Arrow Page Up – scroll up one page.
Fn-Down Arrow Page Down – scroll down one page.
Fn-Left Arrow Home – scroll to the beginning of a document.
Fn-Right Arrow End – scroll to the end of a document.
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the
Command-Up Arrow
document.
Command-Down Arrow Move the insertion point to the end of the document.
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the current
Command-Left Arrow
line.
Command-Right Arrow Move the insertion point to the end of the current line.
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the
Option-Left Arrow
previous word.
Option-Right Arrow Move the insertion point to the end of the next word.
Select the text between the insertion point and the
Shift-Command-Up Arrow
beginning of the document.
Shift-Command-Down Select the text between the insertion point and the end
Arrow of the document.
Shift-Command-Left Select the text between the insertion point and the
Arrow beginning of the current line.
Shift-Command-Right Select the text between the insertion point and the end
Arrow of the current line.
 Extend text selection to the nearest character at the
Shift-Up Arrow
same horizontal location on the line above.
Extend text selection to the nearest character at the
Shift-Down Arrow
same horizontal location on the line below.
Shift-Left Arrow Extend text selection one character to the left.
Shift-Right Arrow Extend text selection one character to the right.
Extend text selection to the beginning of the current
Option-Shift-Up Arrow paragraph; repeat to the beginning of the following
paragraph.
Extend text selection to the end of the current
Option-Shift-Down Arrow paragraph; repeat to the end of the following
paragraph.
Extend text selection to the beginning of the current
Option-Shift-Left Arrow
word; repeat to the beginning of the following word.
Extend text selection to the end of the current word;
Option-Shift-Right Arrow
repeat to the end of the following word.
Control-A Move to the beginning of the line or paragraph.
Control-E Move to the end of a line or paragraph.
Control-F Move one character forward.
Control-B Move one character backward.
Control-L Center the cursor or selection in the visible area.
Control-P Move up one line.
Control-N Move down one line.
Control-O Insert a new line after the insertion point.
Swap the character behind the insertion point with the
Control-T
character in front of the insertion point.
Command-Left Curly
Left align.
Bracket ({)
Command-Right Curly
Right align.
Bracket (})
Shift-Command-Vertical
Centre align.
bar (|)
Option-Command-F Go to the search field.
Option-Command-T Show or hide a toolbar in the app.
Copy Style – copy the formatting settings of the
Option-Command-C
selected item to the Clipboard.
Paste Style – apply the copied style to the selected
Option-Command-V
item.
Paste and Match Style – apply the style of the
Option-Shift-Command-V surrounding content to the item pasted within that
content.
Option-Command-I Show or hide the inspector window.
Page setup – display a window for selecting document
Shift-Command-P
settings.
Display the Save As dialogue or duplicate the current
Shift-Command-S
document.
Shift-Command-Minus
Decrease the size of the selected item.
sign (-)
Shift-Command-Plus sign Increase the size of the selected item. Command-
(+) Equals sign (=) performs the same function.
Shift-Command-Question
Open the Help menu.
mark (?)
Accessibility shortcuts

Shortcut Function
Control-Option-Command-8 Invert colors.
Control-Option-Command-Comma (,) Reduce contrast.
Control-Option-Command-Full Stop (.) Increase contrast.

Shortcut Function
Move focus to the menu bar; use arrow keys
Control-F2 or Fn-Control-F2
to navigate menus.
Control-F3 or Fn-Control-F3 Move focus to the Dock.
Move focus to the active window or the next
Control-F4 or Fn-Control-F4
window.
Control-F5 or Fn-Control-F5 Move focus to the window toolbar.
Control-F6 or Fn-Control-F6 Move focus to the floating window.
Control-Shift-F6 Move focus to the previous panel.
Change how Tab moves focus (all controls vs.
Control-F7 or Fn-Control-F7
only text boxes and lists).
Move focus to the status menu in the menu
Control-F8 or Fn-Control-F8
bar.
Activate the next open window in the front
Command-Grave Accent (`)
app.
Activate the previous open window in the
Shift-Command-Grave Accent (`)
front app.
Option-Command-Grave Accent (`) Move focus to the window drawer.
Move to the next control, or move to the
Tab and Shift-Tab
previous control.
Move to the next control when a text field is
Control-Tab
selected.
Control-Shift-Tab Move to the previous grouping of controls.
Move to the adjacent item in a list, tab group,
Arrow Keys or menu; adjust sliders (Up Arrow to increase
values, Down Arrow to decrease).
Control-Arrow Keys Move to a control adjacent to the text field.